Dizziness when getting up is something common, depending on the circumstances we will explain. Up to 20% of the adult population occasionally suffers from this problem. However, when the sensation does not go away within a few seconds, one must ask why I feel dizzy when I get up.
Join us to find out when it is advisable to consult your doctor and how to say goodbye to that annoying dizziness when getting out of bed in most cases.
Why do I feel dizzy when I get up
We will talk about dizziness when getting up due to cervical issues or minor ailments and differentiate vertigo from dizziness. We will assume that you are rising from the position you adopt when lying in bed, although all this is applicable to any dizziness or vertigo you may experience if you quickly stand up from lying on the floor.
These dizziness when getting up from a mat or beach towel tend to be more pronounced, although we are generally not affected by them. In daily life, if I suffer from dizziness when getting up from bed every day, I can end up very stressed.
Orthostatic Hypotension
Our body is programmed to increase blood pressure when we stand up, precisely to avoid that dizziness we are discussing today. However, some people experience a drop in blood pressure that lasts for a few seconds when they stand up.
This reverse phenomenon, where blood pressure drops upon adopting an upright posture, is called orthostatic hypotension and is completely benign. Those who suffer from it should always rise slowly, first sitting up, and waiting a few seconds before standing up.
Vertigo
How to differentiate dizziness from vertigo? Those who have experienced a vertigo attack know the difference well, although it is difficult to explain. We can assume that during dizziness, you feel the ground, walls, or objects moving, while if you suffer from vertigo, the sensation is as if you are being moved through space.
Episodes of vertigo are due to problems in the inner ear, whether chronic or infectious, or in the nervous system.
Muscle Tension Due to Poor Sleeping Postures
This is one of the most common causes of dizziness when getting up because we all change positions several times while sleeping. If you rest on a mattress that is not firm, you may end up in a very forced position for hours, with the neck and shoulders being the most affected areas. Muscle tension in the cervical area is often accompanied by dizziness. Mattresses with pocket spring cores provide enough firmness to avoid these tensions caused by sleeping in awkward positions on poor support.
The same explanation applies to pillows, which should have the right thickness to adapt to the position we usually adopt while sleeping (on our back, stomach, or side).
Pregnancy
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause hypotension, whether orthostatic or not, and for this reason, some women experience frequent dizziness during their pregnancy.
Anxiety
Anxiety and panic attacks cause dizziness due to hyperventilation. You may not notice it, but during these episodes, you are not suffocating; rather, you are breathing too quickly.
If you wake up from a nightmare and get up quickly, you could stand up without having recovered from a sleep-induced anxiety attack. The result is significant dizziness, which can lead to a fall or fainting.
To avoid anxiety attacks, consult a specialist and try to sleep well every night. When it comes to nightmares, prevention is more complicated, although avoiding going to bed right after a heavy dinner and maintaining good sleep hygiene always helps.
Other Health Issues
From diabetes to hypovolemia, including high blood pressure, these are issues your doctor will not overlook.
Tips to Avoid Dizziness When Getting Up
We can imagine you are thinking about what it is useful for you to know why you feel dizzy when getting up in those cases that cannot be avoided 100%. Now we leave you a list of tips to improve the problem of dizziness in all those situations, whether temporary or chronic, that are not a symptom of a treatable illness.
Get Up Slowly
This advice, already seen in recommendations for those with orthostatic hypotension, also helps generally with other dizziness and, above all, with vertigo. In fact, the so-called benign positional vertigo is countered with this same trick.
Choose a Good Mattress and Pillow
Again, advice focused on a problem, cervical tension, can improve dizziness when getting up in almost all previously described cases, even if it is less specific.
We insist on the benefits of pocket spring mattresses to ensure proper rest for everyone. Consult us if you have questions about which model is best for your specific case.
Rest Properly
In addition to choosing the best mattress for you and one or more good pillows, adopt a sleep routine, do not exercise right before bed, and try taking a warm shower or listening to relaxing sounds during that time.
Use bedding that is not too heavy in winter and breathes well in summer.
Monitor Your Blood Pressure
If you suffer from low or high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe a diet or medication. Do not get distracted and keep in mind that the consumption of certain substances or medications, as well as viral processes, can temporarily alter your blood pressure and, during that time, cause dizziness when getting up.
If you have specific doubts about whether your blood pressure is correct or not, go to a pharmacy or borrow a blood pressure monitor from a friend.
Stay Well Hydrated
Fluid intake and sodium and potassium ions influence blood pressure values. If you do not hydrate properly, even if you do not have low blood pressure, it is normal to feel dizzy when getting up, exercising, etc.
Dizziness when getting up is common, which does not mean it is not annoying, and it can even scare us if it occurs suddenly. In addition to dizziness, there is vertigo. Both can be symptoms of a disease or a benign condition; in any case, if you follow the advice from the previous list, you will see improvement very soon.